ADLINK Technology has added the latest low-power 6th generation Intel Core i7/i5/i3 processors to its MiniITX embedded board, writes Nick Flaherty.
The AmITX-SL-G design follows the Form, Fit, Function principle for scalable development, reducing time-to-market for embedded applications in cloud-based services, intelligent gateways, and embedded building blocks for edge devices that enable the Internet of Things (IoT).
The board combines the processors with the Intel Q170 or H110 chipsets in a space-saving, entry-level embedded board with higher processing speeds, faster graphics rendering, and up to 32GB of memory for infotainment, industrial, and medical applications.
The AmITX-SL-G supports up to 32GB of dual channel non-ECC DDR4 memory at 1867MHz, doubling the memory capacity while reducing the footprint of previous models. The graphics processors support 3D imaging and video conferencing and ultra HD/4K resolution across three display ports for medical-grade images, and low-power transcoding for HEVC/H.265, VP8, VP9, and VDENC formats.
The Mini-ITX form factor at 170 mm square and approximately 35 mm thick, is aimed at applications such as self-service kiosks, on-display mounts, stand-alone gaming systems, or any limited-space application. ADLINK embedded boards also follow the form, fit, function design principle: board designs feature a layout consistent for connector and pinout locations, allowing easy upgrades with no need to modify the enclosure or cabling. The Mini-ITX remains compatible with Micro-ATX and regular ATX chassis to offer scalability for later development.
The embedded board serves as a base for a scalable system with external connectors for dual GbE ports, four USB 3.0 and four USB 2.0 ports, HD audio I/O, and three display ports. Internal connectors include three SATA 6 Gbps ports, display-optional LVDS/eDP, and a feature header with 10 GPIO, SMBus, and I2C support. PCIe expansion is available through a Gen3 PCIe x16 slot, one single-lane PCIe, and two mini-PCIe slots with support for mSATA.
The AmITX-SL-G embedded board is also equipped with ADLINK’s Smart Embedded Management Agent (SEMA) to provide detailed system data at the device level, including temperature, voltage, power consumption, and other key information. Access to system activities allows operators to identify inefficiencies and malfunctions in real-time, thus preventing failures and minimizing downtime.
Connecting seamlessly to the SEMA Cloud enables remote monitoring so that all collected data, including sensor measurements and management commands, is accessible from any place, at any time through an encrypted connection. In addition, the board offers the enhanced security capabilities of the Intel Q170 and H110 chipsets, including new AES instructions, faster encryption, and the Intel Software Guard Extension and Memory Protection.